Container



Aug. 29, 1933. c. H. WILLIAMSON CONTAINER Filed Feb; 27, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mir 055:

Aug. 29, 1933.

c. H. WILLIAMSON CONTAINER Filed Feb. '27, 1931 3 "Sheets-Sheet 2 I 4770322251 Y GZ MHv HtIfiZIIM Patented Aug. 29, 1933 1,934,143 comma Clarence H. Williamson,

Cleveland, Ohio, as-

signor to The Youngstown Steel Door Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a Corporation of Ohio Application February 27, 1931. Serial No. 518,789 11 Claims. (01. 29H

This invention relates to improvements in containers, especially adapted for use with-railway cars and generally known as L. C. L. containers.

One object of the invention is to provide a container of the character indicated, which is particularly adapted for transporting articles in bulk, such as brick, tile and the like, that may be readily stacked on a platform and the latter with. its lading, temporarily used as the bottom of the container while thearticles are being transported from source of origin to point of delivery, the articles being discharged in stacked formation by removing the container proper from the platform.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of the character indicated that is Open at the bottom, but which is provided with permanently attached means for temporarily retaining a movable or false bottom during transportation of the articles mounted on said bottom and housed within the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of the type indicated having its side walls composed of sheet metal provided with integrally formed strengthening indentations to thereby minimize the weight consistent with the necessary strength, the interior of the container being also especially designed to eliminate sharp shoulders or projections that might otherwise either injure or foul the lading during transit or discharge thereof.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following considered in connection with the drawings.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is an elevational view of one side of my improved container, parts being broken away in order to better accommodate the figure on the sheet. Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing one of the other sides at right angles to the side illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view corresponding to the section line 33 of Figure 2 and illustrating more particularly the manner of supporting and retaining the load ca ying, bottom-functioning platform. Figure 4 is a horizontal, sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 44 of Figure 1. And

Figure 5 is a vertical, sectional view, correspond-.

ing to the section line 5-5 of Figure 2.

In ca ying out :my invention, the container is preferably made rectangular with a flat roof and without any permanent bottom. The framework is provided by four corner angles 10-10, one of which is illustrated in section in Figure 4;

four top angles 1111, one on each side and a section of one of which is shown in Figure 5; two bottom angles 12-.12 extending" along the longer sides of the container; and two angles 13-13 along the bottoms of the two remaining sides, one of said angles 13 being illustrated in section in Figure 3, all of said angles beingriginiy secured together as will be understood.

The roof is preferably flat and composed of sheetmetal 14, extended at its edges over the horizontal flanges of the top angles 11 and secured thereto'as by rivets 15-15. Each of the side walls is composed of a sheet metal panel, those on the longer sides illustrated in Figure 1 being designated as 16 and those on the shorter sides, as illustrated in Figure 2, being designated as 17. Each of said side wall sheets has an upper flat margin, as indicated best at 18, in Figure 5, riveted to the depending flange of the corresponding top frame angle 11. At its bottom, each side sheet 16 and 17 has also a flat marginal por-- tion 19, as best illustrated in Figure 3, overlying and riveted .to the upstanding flange of the corresponding bottom angle member 12 or 13, respectively.. At the corner angles 10, the vertical marginal flanges 20-20 of the side wall sheets are overlapped on the inner side of the flanges of the corner angles 10, as illustrated in Figure 4, and

said marginal portions are preferably laterally outwardly offset slightly an amount corresponding to the thickness of a retaining angular plate 21 so that the inner surface of the latter and the flush securing rivets are flush with the inner surfaces of the side plates 16 and 17, thus avoiding any shar p cornersor shoulders on the interior of the container at the corners thereof. To keep the gauge of the side. sheets 16 and 17 at the minimum and at the same time provide the necessary strength and rigidity therefor, said side wall sheets 16 and 17 are preferably formed with vertically extending, outwardly pressed corrugations 22-22, the latter having their upper and lower ends rounded out, as indicated at 23-23, to avoid presentation of any sharp shoulders on the interior of the container, particularly at the bottom, and which might otherwise interfere with the discharge of the lading, as hereinafter described. For handling the container, the latter is preferably provided with four corner loops 24-44 rigidly attached, as indicated.

To carry out my invention, and particularly the mode of handling articles such as stacked brick, tile and the like, the bottom angles 13 of the two shorter sides are disposed at a level appreciably above the bottom flanges 2525 of the two bot- 2 toni angles 12 secured to the longer sides 16 so that the container, when resting on the floor, is supported by the two bottom angles 12-12, as will be understood. As best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the two longer sides 16 are cut out at their bottom corners, as indicated at 26-26, to provide the necessary clearance and space for the operation of two floor-supporting I-beams 27-27, which are carried by two pairs of links 28-28, pivotally secured, as indicated at 29, to suitable heavy plates 30-30 in turn riveted to the side walls 16. The side walls 16 are preferably reinforced at their cut out corners by plates 3l31 also cut out to correspond with the cut out portions of the side sheets. The lower corners of the remaining sides 1'7 are also preferably reinforced by angular plates 32-32 riveted on the outside thereof, as best indicated in Figure 2.

Each of the supporting I-beams 27 is attached to its respective pair of links 26, preferably by coping off the lower flanges, part of the web, and portions of the upper flanges for a short distance at each end, as indicated at 33-33 in Figure 2 so that there is left substantially T-shaped projecting ends 34-34 of the I-beam, which are passed through correspondingly shaped slots provided in the lower ends of the links 28. Obviously, when the links are assembled over the ends of the' I-beams and the links then secured in place, the Lbeams are held against lengthwise movement relative to the links. As clearly shown in Figure 3, the supporting I-beams 2''! when in their dependent operative position, are spaced a short distance above the floor line so as to provide for free swinging movement, as indicated by the dotted lines in said figure.

In transporting certain articles, particularly brick and tile, my improved containers are especially advantageous inasmuch as the handling of vto correspond in size and shape to the brick or tile my improvements, the brick, tile or the like may be stacked, at the source of origin, on a heavy platform 36, which in turn is supported or held in spaced relation with the floor by cross beams 37-37. With the brick, tile or other articles properly stacked on the platform or false bottom 36, my improved container is then let down over the platform (which will obviously be made the size and shape of the container) and when the container is supported on the same floor as the platform, the swingingly supported I-beams 27 may then two ends of the platform 36, as shown in Figure 3. As the container is then lifted, it is obvious that the platform with its stacked brick, tile or the like thereon will also be lifted and the weight of the lading will be sufficient to maintain the supporting I-beams 2'1 always in position. The articles, now within the container, are transferred to the car, transported to city of destination, then the containers are trucked to the building where the brick, tile or the like are to be unloaded from the container either on. the ground by swinging out the supporting I-bearns and withdrawing the container proper upwardly or the container with its lading may be hoisted to any desired portion of the building where the articles are to be immediately used. In this manthe' brick, tile or the like are only handled twice orthree times at the most before they are put in place by the bricklayer or tile'layer. As will be understood, one platform 36 with an entire load for the container may be used or two or more platforms used with is reduced to a minimum. With be used. The articles then may means a smaller number of layers of stacked brick or the like on each platform, one above the other.

Another advantage of my improvements, aside from the saving in handling of the articles, resides in the fact that the container is of extremely light weight, inasmuch as it has no permanent botto this in turn reducing the freight carrying charges and permitting lighter loads on trucks for a given number of articles.

By forming the interior of the container free from sharp shoulders or projections, as hereinbefore described, danger of fouling or disturbing the stacked articles when the container proper is being removed from the platform or false bottom is minimized and likewise injury to the articles during transportation is reduced to a minimum.

It'will further be understood that any suitable expedients, such as pegs, rings or the like, may be employed for holding the swinging links 28 in either operative or inoperative position, I deeming it unnecessary to illustrate any such means.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and all changes and modifications are contemplated that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1'. A bottomless container having side and end walls, the side walls being extended downwardly below the end walls and upon the lower edges of which the container is adapted to rest; and means, adiacent the lower edges of the end walls, adapted to engage under and retain a separable load support positioned between the downwardly extended portions of the side walls.

2. A bottomless container having side and end walls, the side walls being extended downwardly below the end walls and upon the lower edges of which the container is adapted to rest; and means, adjacent the lower edges of the end walls, adapted to engage under and retain an independent load support positioned between the downwardly extended portions of the side walls, said meansbeing movably supported from the side walls.

3. A bottomless container having side and end walls, the side walls being extended downwardly below the end walls and upon the lower edges of which the container is adapted to rest; and means, adj acent the lower edges of the end walls, adapted to engage under and retain an independent load support positioned between the downwardly extended portions of the side walls, said means including two. transversely extending bars swingingly supported from the container walls. 13

4. Arailway car container having a frame comprised of corner posts, top and bottom horizontally extending side bars all secured together; sheet metal sides and top wall seemed along their respective edges to said posts and bars. the sides having integrally formed strengthening indentations therein extended outwardly from the inner planes of the sheet metal sides; and means at the top of the container for lifting the same.

5. A railway car container having a frame comprised of corner posts, top and bottom horizontally extending side bars all secured together; sheet metal sides and top wall secured along their respective edges to said posts and bars, the sides having integrally formed, outwardly disposed, strengthening indentations therein, said indentations being in the form of vertically arranged corrugations with rounded out lower ends to thereby eliminate sharp shoulders; and means at the top of the container for lifting the messes a 6. A reilwsy oer container having a skeleton, box-like framework comprised of relatively heavy sections; side and end sheet metal walls secured to said framework, the side walls being oi? greetex' vertical height then the end walls and upon which the container is adapted to be supported, said side and end wells having integrally formed strengthening indentetions incorporated therein; and moons at the bottom of the conteiner for supporting it load theiewitliin.

'7. In e railway cor container, the combination with top end bottom liorizontsllv disposed side and end boss and angle comer posts; of sheet metel sides having their ends secured to the inner feces of the fienges of sold comer posts, the se cured portions being laterally ofiset; end an engu= lei retaining piste seated within the ofiset por tions at each come-toast to provide sllht tiillfilfilb flush surfaces with the respective side wall metal. sheets; means providing e, clisplseeeole bottom the container; and means ot the top of the Gilli teiner for lifting the some.

8. In s, bottomless container for use in trans portation, the combinotion with a framework; of sheet metei side and end walls secured to said framework, said side walls being extended dowii= weirdly below the end walls, the bottom end portions of the side walls being cut out to form corners; and movable supports, disposed within sold out out comers adopted to retein load corry= ing means. Y

9. In a, bottomless container for use in transportation, the combination with a skeleton is Yes like framework composed of rolled sections; of corrugated sheet metal side end end wells and a roof secured to said framework, the side being extended downwardly below the end wells, the end portions of said side wells at the bottom being out out to form corners; links pivotelly secured to the side walls adjacent each end well; and a supporting leer secured to the lower ends of each respective pair of links, said hers being dis posed within the out out comers when in operative position.

iii. A bottomless container comprising: e sheet metal root; permanent sheet metal side walls on all sides thereoi-two opposite side wells having their lower edges extended downwardly an opprecieble distance below the bottom edges of the remaining side walls and thereby adopted to sup= port the container on said downwerdly extended edges; detecl'isiile load sup ne-rt; and meexis. movable to an operative position sleeve the plane of said lower: supporting edges and edepteo to retain seid losd support disposed between sold dotmwoi'c ly extended sidewalls.

ll. A bottomless container comprising: at roof; sheet metel siole wells on all sides thereof, two of the opposite side walls being each cut sway ed= jeceiit the lower comers oltlie container; and devices pivotelly attached to the wells of the eon teiner and movable within the cut away areas adapted to operetively engage with and retain a separelole load support.

CECE H. 

